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Publication Open Access A case study on identification and assessment of postharvest losses of tomato (Lycoperisicon escuentum Mill)(Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya: Peradeniya, 1992) Rupasinghe, H. P. V; Peiris, C. N; Wijeratnam, R. S. WA study was undertaken to quantify and identify the causes of the postharvest losses of tomato during the Malta season of 1991. In the first phase of the study a suivey was earned out using random samples to collect information on the present system of posthaivest handling of tomato. Four major stages of the posthaivest marketing sequence were identified, namely; fann gate, collection agent, Manning wholesale market (Colombo) and exporter respectively. Loss assessments were conducted at these stages. Tlie survey revealed that pest and diseases such as pod borrer (Heliolhis zea) attack and blight (Altemuiia solani and Pliyiopluliora infestans) are the major contributions for posthaivest losses at the fann gate. Over maturity at hanest, bird attack and losses due to sun scorch were also obseived. Cultivating small extents of land (66% of farmers possess less than half acre) increases the liaircsting interval which resulted in a high percentage of over maturity. Tlie above factors subsequently made considerable losses at the collection agents when soiling the product for transportation. Significant losses were observed al the Manning market due to long distance of transportation with improper handling and transportation. Tlte main problem with exporters was the lack of uniformity of product with respect to maturity and size. Cumulative loss at the Manning wholesale market was obseived to be close to 54%. Contributions to the major causes of loss were as follows; mechanical damage due to over ripening 17.3%, pod borrer attack 23%, blight 4.8% and mechanical damage due to other factors 15%. Tlie cumulative loss and rejections after export quality selection was as high as 96%. Rejects due to non conformity to export specifications with respect to maturity, size and shape were 27.52% and 7.34%, respectively.Publication Open Access An evaluation of genetic diversity in micropropagated anthurium using starch gel electrophoresis(Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya: Peradeniya, 1992) Peiris, S; Mantell, S. H; Peiris, C. N; Senanayake, Y. D. AAnthurium andreanum Lind is a cut flower which is in high demand in the local and export cut flower trades in Sri Lanka. For commercial production of export anthurium cut flowers, it is essential that the selected elite qualities of the flowers borne on this original mother stock plants are maintained consistantly through many generations on vegetative multiplication. Tliis paper reports on stanch gel electrophoresis which was adapted successfully on anthuriums to evaluate genetic diversity if any, in plants derived either from seedlings, conventional stem cuttings or micropropagated clonal plants. Buffered leaf extracts were compared by means of horizontal starch gel electrophoresis to check the variability in cv. 'Crinkled Red'. Isoenzyme banding patterns of malic dehydrogenase (MDH), 6 phosphogluconic dehydrogenase (6 PGDH), phosphogluco isomerase (PGI) and diaphorase (DIAP) were used. Extracts of 105 seedlings, 60 clonal plants produced through rhizome cuttings and 150 in vitro propagated plants were compared to detect possible somaclonal variations in the daughter plants produced. Results of starch gel electrophoresis showed that extracts of seedling plants contained variations, expressed as percentages showing deviant patterns in all five isoenzyme systems assessed: MDH 14%, 6 PGDH 13%, GOT 12%, PGI 14% and DIAP 16%. None of the clonal plants or in vitro propagated plants tested using this technique showed variations in any of the isoenzyme compared. Tlie results of this study showed the genetic diversity in anthwium seedling plants and confirmed that stability was maintained in vegetatively propagated and in vitro propagated plants. Since in vitro propagation produces a large number of uniform and genetically stable plants, in vitro multiplication would appear to be suitable for use in the Sri Lankan floriculture industryPublication Open Access Effect of packaging material on the storability of Chillie (Capsicum annum L.) seed in Sri Lanka(Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya: Peradeniya, 1994) Silva, S. G. R; Peiris, C. NExtracted chillie seed from ripe, desiccated dry pods of cultivar MI 2 of known germination (81.0%), was dried to 9.7%, 5.9% moisture contents, and packed in three different packaging materials: aluminium foil, 500 gauge polythene and woven polypropylene sacks. The seeds were stored at ambient conditions in Pelwehera (30°C, 80% RH), Rahangala (23°C, 79% RH) and in a cold room (20°C 65% RH) in Gannoruwa. Seed germination, field emergence, and seed moisture content of the stored seed were tested at the inception and at 3 month intervals during the 12 month study period. Chillie seed with a low initial moisture content (5.9%) maintained germinability better than seeds with a high moisture content (9.7%) in all locations. Triple laminated aluminium foil was a better packaging material. Polysack packaging displayed free moisture movement from the early stages of the study, in all the locations. Polythene (500 gauge) was better than polysack and similar to aluminum foil when storing low moisture (5.9%) chillie seed for 12 months, at all the locations except in Pelwehera. A cold room condition was the best to store chillie seed without losing its viability below 75% for a period of one year. It could be recommended that these dried, extracted chillie seed from ripe dry pods of cultivar MI 2 packed in aluminium foil or in polythene (500 gauge) be stored in a cold room (20PC, 65% RH) for a long term (12 months).Publication Open Access Identification of cowpea cultivars (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp) by isoenzyme electrophoresis(Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya: Peradeniya, 1994) Eeswera, J. P; Peiris, C. NThe differences among cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp) cultivars were identified using electrophoretically detected isozymic variability. The enzymes studied in the selected 10 cultivars of cowpea were Diaphorase (DIAP), Phospho Gluco Isomerase (PGI), 6Phospho Gluconate Dehydrogenase (6PGD), Phospho Gluco Mutase (PGM), Esterase (EST), Hexose Kinase (HK) and Glucose Oxalo Acetate Transaminase (GOT). Starch gel electrophoresis was used to analyze extracts prepared from young leaf tissues of seven day old seedlings of each cultivar grown under greenhouse conditions. Three enzymes GOT, HK, and PGM exhibited two patterns, while three different patterns were observed for EST and 6PGD. Phospho Gluco Isomerase showedfour different patterns, and DIAP appeared to be the most polymorphic with eight patterns. Distinct variety specific zymograms were observed for several enzymes. Unique combinations of isozymic variants of two enzyme systems assayed (DIAP and PGI) could differentiate all the culti*urs. Sufficient variability was present in cowpea cultivars to allow the use of isozyme electrophoresis as a method for cultivar identification. Therefore, ii could be used in variety identification to complement the morphological characters.Publication Open Access Establishment of embryogenic cell suspension culture of chilli (capsicum annum L. var. accuminatum fingerh) for somatic embryogenesis(Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya: Peradeniya, 1996) Nandakumar, J; Bandara, J. M. R. S; Peiris, SChilli [Capsicum annum L. var. accuminatum Fingerh] is one of the important spice crops ofSri Lanka. Embryogenic suspension cultures of chilli were developed with an objective to induce somatic embryogenesis Successful callus induction was obtained from both leaves and cotyledons of two weeks old seedlings in MS medium containing 1 ppm 2, 4 • D, after incubation in the dark for two to three weeks. A combination ofKinetin (0.x ppm) and 2,4- D (1 ppm) promoted callus proliferation at a high rate. Cell suspension cultures were established using 2 g of four week old leaf and cotyledon calli in 20 ml of liquid MS medium with 1 ppm 2, 4- D in 100 ml Erlenmeyer flasks. Weekly sub culturing was performed. MS medium with 2. 4-D (1 ppm) stimulated embryogenesis on cotyledon callus after 12 weeks in culture. Embryogenic calli formed are pale yellow to brown, compact, organized and nodular in appearance. It comprised of small, richly cytoplasmic cells without large vacuoles. Both initiation of embryogenic cells and the subsequent development of these cells into embryoids occurred in the. same MS (2, 4-D 1 ppm) medium. Within a period of five to seven days, 12 week old, 20 ml of embryogenic cell suspension produced 14 proembryoids After 7-14 days they developed into heart stage and to mature embryoids Plantlet development has not observed until now in the tested MS media, containing activated charcoal, zeatin, IBA and GA3.Publication Embargo Development of the major triterpenoids and oil in the fruit and seeds of neem (Azadirachta indica)(No longer published by Elsevier, 1996-09-01) JOHNSON, S; MORGAN, D. E; PEIRIS, C. NIn order to learn the best time for harvesting Neem (Azadirachta indica) seeds, the amount of the five major triterpenoids, together with the oil content have been determined throughout a fruiting season in six selected trees in Sri Lanka. The triterpenoid content and the relative proportions of the major compounds changed little from the hard green fruit stage to mature seeds, while the oil content increased markedly with time. The highest content of azadirachtin (10 mg g-1seed kernels) was recorded in newly ripened seeds. There was some loss of salannin and azadirachtin in storage after harvesting for up to 6 months.Publication Open Access Yield and quality of tomato as affected by rainfall during different growth stages(Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya: Peradeniya, 1997) Weerakkody, W. A. P; Peiris, C. N; Jayasekara, S. J. B. ACultivation of tomato (Lvcopersicon esculentum) is severely affected during the peak rainy periods in Sri Lanka, which leads to a seasonality in production andfluctuation ofprices. To study the nature of rain damage and to identify the critical growth stages prone to rain damage, staggered planting of tomato was practiced in the Mid Country Intermediate Zone during the Maha season. The rain damage was evaluated in terms of yield components, yield andfruit quality. During the vegetative growth and early flowering, rainfall was positively correlated with yield components andfruit quality. However, rainfall received during the late flowering phase reduced the weight andfinal number of fruits. During fruit growth, rainfall was positively correlated with fruit cracking andjuice pH. A negative correlation existed with other fruit defects. Hence, positive effects cf rainfall during vegetative growth and negative effects ofrainfall during reproductive growth were evident. Late flowering andfruit ripening stages were identified as critical for yield components while fruit growth andfruit ripenug stages were identified as critical for fruit quality.Publication Open Access Biodiversity of fruit and other tree species in the Huruluwewa watershed with emphasis on their economic utility(Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya: Peradeniya, 1997) Amarasinghe, A. A. Y; Peiris, B. C. N; Peiris, SThis stud}1 attempted to determine species and genetic diversity in the Huruluwewa wa'ershed considering basic information on native tree species with emphasis oi i fruit and other tree species of future economic utility. This study :vas carried out in different phases, namely, "reconnaissance survey" leading to specific information of the Huruluwewa watershed to determine the species diversity and "Identification of genetic diversity of fruit tree species" through starch gel electrophoresis techniques. Few groups of fruit tree species showing close similarities were used to establish the "Finger printing" through starch gel electrophoresis to identify the genetic diversity. The existing high degree of species diversity in the Huruluwewa watershed can be categorized into different groups based on their economic utility. These are fruit ti ee species, medicinal plants, firewood species, timber trees, ornamental plants food crops, shade trees, cover crops andfodder crops. Different banding patterns in the starch gel electrophoresis established for fruit tree species with closn morphological similarities, indicated the genetic diversity within and among fruit tree species in the watershedPublication Open Access Plant growth flowering and fruit formation of tomato grown under protected culture(Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya: Peradeniya, 1998) Weerakkody, W. A. P; Peiris, C. NProtected culture is a remedy for environmental problems of crop cultivation. However, seasonal weather changes adversely affect indoor grown plants. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine the affect of protected (indoor) culture and other improved technologies, often used in protected culture, on tomato (Lvcopersicon esculentum L.) grown with irrigation during the Maha season. Two indoor cultures together with improved technology and two outdoor (open-field) cultures with and without improved technology were used as treatments. Vegetative and reproductive growth of tomato were evaluated during the respective growth stages. Except at early vegetative growth, dry weather prevailed during the cropping season. Most of the vegetative growth parameters were not significantly different between the indoor and outdoor treatments. However, indoor culture showed significantly higher flowering and fruit formation. The shed house recorded the highest number of fruits per plant. Significantly higher vegetative growth was observed with the use of improved technologies, irrespective of the experimental conditions. Moreover, the improved technologies contributedfor greater number offlowers per plant but not for number of fruits. Indoor culture in combination with the improved technology assured greater vegetative growth, flowering and fruit formation of tomato when compared to outdoor culture under low rainy conditions that prevail during the Maha season. Except for fruitformation, comparative advantages of different indoor structures were not evident.Publication Open Access Fruit formation, marketable yield and fruit quality of tomato varieties grown under protected culture in two agro ecological zones during the rainy season(National Science Foundation: Colombo, 1999) Weerakkody, W. A. P; Peiris, C. N; Karunananda, P. HEnvironmental limitations in agriculture can be successhlly overcome wit11 the use of protected (indoor) culture. Howevel; the powtll and developme~t of indoor grown crops with pa~tial environmental control vary with season, location and crop genetic dif~"erences. This rescarcll was conducted to study the influence of agro-ecological conditions and varietal differences on fiuit development, yield and fiuit quality of' protected c~~lture grown tomato during the rainy season. The location, Rallangala (upcountry intermediate zone) enhanced the yield components, hit size and damage-free fruits under rainy weatller. Fruits at Peradeniya (midcountry wet zone) had higllcl. tolal soluhlc solids (TSS), fruit acidity and locular material contents compared to Rahangala. Protected culture gave greater iiuit formation, yield (fruit weight and numbcr of'marketahle fruits), f'luit size and damage-free fruits than the open field culture. As a result ofthe interaction between culture and locati.on, the hjghest yield and fruit size were reported at Rallangala while the highest TSS w'as reported at Peradeniya in protected culture. More marketable fiuits of cultivar T-245, Iligl~er f111it weight of cultivar Heat; Master and liiigher yield of cultivar Cariho were found, especially under protected culture. Caribo appeared to he suitable for both regions while Heat Master and T-245 were better adapted to Ral~angala and Pcradeniya, respectively. The polythene llouse with improved technology was more productive usder the agro-ecological conditions at Rallangala duxing MuIra season in terms of yield and external fiuit quality of tomato while it was more suitahle,for Peradeniya during XL~U, season in terms of internal fuit quality of tomato.Publication Open Access Preliminary investigation of preservation methods to produce dried flowers of rose and statice(Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya: Peradeniya, 2000) Kumari, D. L. C; Peiris, SAn experiment was carried out to investigate methods which preserve rose and statice to retain its high quality standards as dried flowers. Air-drying, glycol preservation and use of desiccants were applied as preserving methods. Colour of petals, dryness of petals and overall appearance of the flower at the end of the drying process were evaluated as quality standards. The highest quality standard in rose was shown within 2 weeks by the preservation method using silica gel as a desiccant. Air drying showed better results than glycol when preserving rose. In statice, air drying was the best method which retained quality standards. The highest score was obtained in the 4'h week Statice exposed to glycol preservation did not show high quality standards. This experiment revealed the best preservation methods for rose and statice are silica gel desiccant and air drying respectivelyPublication Open Access Potential low cost treatments for extending the vase life of anthurium (Anthurium andreanum lind) flowers(Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya: Peradeniya, 2000) Yapa, S. S; Peiris, B. C. N; Peiris, SFlowers, being viable and actively metabolizing parts of plants, are subject to ageing processes and thus are perishable commodities. In order to meet the requirement for export market of cut-flowers it is necessary to prolong the vase-life while maintaining quality. Specific anti- ethylene compounds, which are expensive, are presently being used to break the ageing process. An investigation was therefore carried out to extend the vaselife of cut-flower Anthurium gndregnum. using inexpensive treatments in comparison with conventional methods. The flowers were treated with different concentrations of antiethylene compounds, such as AgNO, silver thiosulfate (STS), benzyl amino purine (BAP), KMn04 , glycerine and hot water. Distilled water treatment was used as the control. The longest vase-life lasting 14 days was obtained with 2 mg t' KMnO+ This was followed by STS (12.87days), 10 mg t' BAP (12.43 days), 5 mg t1 BAP( 12.37 days) and 1000 mg t' AgN03 (12.25 days). Hot water and 15 mg t' BAP did not significantly affect the vase-life. Flowers treated with different glycerine concentrations showed the lowest- vase-life compared to the control. The cost analysis revealed that the KMn04 treatment is the cheapest method. Moreover, amongst conventional treatments, AgNO3, BAP and STS at tested concentrations were not found to be cost effective.Publication Open Access Transient expression of uida reporter gene in regenerable callus tissues of Anthurium andraeanum lind. by agrobacterium mediated transformation(Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya: Peradeniya, 2000) Yakandawala, G; Peiris, S; Yakandawala, Y. L. NA tissue culture scheme for plant regeneration via callus, and a protocol for gene transfer to regenerable callus are described for Anthurium andraeanum variety A vo Nette. Callus was induced from shoot bases and from leaf blades of Anthurium andraeanum on modified MS media containing 0.3 mg t' 2,4-D and 0.5 mg t' BAP. Shoot bases, leaf blades with a single cut at the base, and sectioned leaf blades produced callus at frequencies of 90%, 20% and 8%, respectively. Plant regeneration was obtained at a high frequency in all callus types, irrespective of their origin, in modified MS media containing 0.5 mg t' BAP. Callus was tested for gene transfer efficiency by 2 Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains, C58 andLB4404, carrying binary vector p CAMBIAi } oi containing hpt and uidA reporter genes under plant expression signals. Transient expression of uidA gene monitored by GUS histochemical assay was observed only in callus inoculated with Agrobacterium strain LB4404 at a frequency of 3.33%.Publication Open Access Effects of selected post harvest treatments on vase life of cut flower gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus)(Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya: Peradeniya, 2000) Premawardena, P. S; Peiris, B. C. N; Peiris, SA postharvest storage study with different treatments was carried out to investigate a procedure in prolonging the vase life of cut-flower gladiolus. Various chemical and non chemical treatments which are locally available were used. In comparison with the control (distilled water), beverages such as 7-UP™ in different concentrations, specific anti-ethylene compounds, silver nitrate and silver thiosulphate (STS), benzyl amino purine (BAP) in different concentrations, hot water treatment to the base ofthe flower stalk as a sterilizing method, maintaining the pH at 3.5 using HCI, eylene oxidization with KMn04 and ethylene absorption with activated charcoal were tested The longest vase-life and the best visual quality were achieved by gladiolus flowers treated with 25% 7-UP™. Next best visual quality were achieved by Silver nitrate, 2.25% 7-UP™, 4 mg t' KMn04 and STS in the descending order. Flowers treated with 2 mg t' KMn04 and the control (distilled water) had the lowest vase life. The visual quality was lowest in flowers treated with 2 mg t1 KMnO^ When the cots ofcompounds used were considered the study indicates that the treatment 7-UP™ and KMn04 were found to be the cheapest, while silver nitrate and silver thiosulphate are comparatively expensive.Publication Open Access Calcium/calmodulin activation of two divergent glutamate decarboxylases from tobacco(Oxford University Press, 2003-08-01) Yevtushenko, D. P; McLean, M. D; Peiris, S; Cauwenberghe, O. R. V; Shelp, B. JGlutamate decarboxylase (GAD, EC 4.1.1.15) catalyses the α‐decarboxylation of glutamate to produce γ‐aminobutyrate (GABA). The nucleotide sequences of two divergent GADs (designated GAD1 and GAD3) were isolated from a Nicotianatabacum L. cv. Samsun NN leaf cDNA library. Open reading frames indicated that GAD1 encodes a polypeptide of 496 amino acids and has greater than 99% identity with known tobacco GADs, whereas GAD3 encodes a polypeptide of 491 amino acids and has about 14% divergence from known tobacco GADs. Genomic DNA analysis suggested that there are at least four tobacco GAD genes, existing in pairs of highly identical genes. An in vitro assay at pH 7.3 revealed that activities of the recombinant proteins, after isolation from Escherichia coli and partial purification by nickel‐affinity chromatography, are 57–133 times the control levels in the presence of 0.5 mM calcium and 0.2 µM bovine calmodulin.Publication Open Access Overexpression of glutamate decarboxylase in transgenic tobacco plants deters feeding by phytophagous insect larvae(Kluwer Academic Publishers-Plenum Publishers, 2003-09) MacGregor, K. B; Shelp, B. J; Peiris, S; Bown, A. WGamma-aminobutyrate (GABA) is a ubiquitous four-carbon, nonprotein amino acid synthesized by glutamate decarboxylase. Previous research suggests that the endogenous synthesis of GABA, a naturally occurring inhibitory neurotransmitter at neuromuscular junctions, serves as a plant resistance mechanism against invertebrate pests. In this study, two homozygous transgenic tobacco lines constitutively overexpressing a single copy of a full-length chimeric glutamate decarboxylase cDNA and possessing enhanced capacity for GABA accumulation (GAD plants), a homozygous transgenic line lacking the gene insert, and wild-type tobacco were employed. Tobacco budworm larvae were presented with plantattached wild type and transgenic leaves for 4 hr in a feeding preference study. Larvae consumed six to twelve times more leaf tissue from wild-type plants than from GAD plants. These results suggest that leaf GABA accumulation, which is known to occur in response to insect larval walking and feeding, represents a rapidly deployed localresistance mechanism.Publication Open Access Gamma-hydroxybutyrate accumulates in green tea and soybean sprouts in response to oxygen deficiency(Canadian Science Publisher, 2003-10) Shelp, B. J; Allan, W. L; Peiris, C; Bown, A. WGamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) is an illicit drug, which may be derived in plants from a stress-inducible metabolite known as gamma-aminobutyrate. Here, oxygen deficiency caused the accumulation of GHB in green tea and soybean sprouts (76 and 155 nmol g-1 fresh weight, respectively). These findings demonstrate that GHB levels are elevated in severely modified atmospheres, but they pose no risk to human health. Further work is required to assess the extent of this phenomenon.Publication Open Access Effect of hot ethral-dip treatment for improving peel colour development and reducing stem-endrot of ‘Karuthacolomban’mango(Sri Lanka Department of Agriculture, 2004) Sarananda, K. H; Wijesinghe, W. A. J. P; Dulani, H. N; Peiris, C. NPoor colour development of the peel and high incidence of stem-end-rot development are the major reasons for excessive postharvest losses in mango, variety” Karuthacolomban ‘. Experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of artificial ripening by application of ethral at ambient (26ºC), 48º and 52ºC on reducing postharvest losses. Time taken for ripening was shortened when the treated temperature was increased. Peel colour development was improved when fruits were treated at 52 C. Total soluble solids and titratable acidity of induced fruits remained similar to those of control at table ripe stage. No difference observed in the sensory evaluation of ripe mango indicated that the taste, smell and flavour were not affected by the application of ethral. Fruits inoculated with Lasiodiplodia theobromae showed less severity of stem-endrot when those fruits were induced for ripening at 52 C with ethral. When inoculated fruits were allowed to ripen naturally a high disease severity was observed. Therefore, after harvesting, mature” Karuthacolomban ‘mangoes could be treated with hot ethral (1 ml/l H2O) at 52 C for 3 minutes to induce ripening resulting in an attractive peel colour and a low severity of stem-end-rot.Publication Embargo In vitro conservation and propagation of medicinal plants(Taylor & Francis Group, 2004-06-01) Murch, S. J; Peiris, S; Liu, C. Z; Saxena, P. KIn recent years the quest for longevity and an improved quality of life has ventured into the realm of natural therapeutics, resulting in a wider acceptance of plant-based medicine in the Western world. This increased interest in natural remedies has also brought about the great challenge of maintaining a balance between the demand of expanding markets for plant-based medicines and the need to protect medicinal biodiversity. The development of effective cultivation technologies that define plant yield in terms of both biomass and medicinally active phytochemicals is therefore extremely important for long-term conservation of medicinal plants and their sustainable use. In vitro culture offers many advantages for the creation of germplasm banks of living, growing medicinal plant tissues, mass-propagation, and long-term storage in a suspended physiological state. This review describes some of the challenges and approaches of this rapidly growing discipline. The Plant Cell Technology Laboratory at the University of Guelph maintains a living collection of medicinal and endangered species collected over the last 4 years as part of an international interdisciplinary research collaboration.Publication Open Access Breeding and selection of tomato F1 hybrids for yield and fruit quality characters(Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya: Peradeniya, 2005) Alwis, L. M. H. R; Perera, A. L. T; Fonseka, H; Peiris, C. NTomato (Lvcopersicon esculentum Miller) of the family Solanaceae is one of the most important vegetable crops grown in Sri Lanka. To understand the actual consumer requirements, especially in terms of fruit quality characters, an extensive survey was carried out. Results revealed that for home consumption, a majority preferred acidic, round to flatshaped, medium-sized fruits, red in colour for curries, salads and sandwiches. The Government of Sri Lanka has also identified the production of local vegetable hybrids as a matter of high priority. With this information, a half diallel genetic crossing design was carried out to produce 36 F, hybrids using nine local and foreign varieties at the Agricultural Biotechnology Centre, University of Peradeniya. These were evaluated in the Meewatura farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya. Yield and fruit quality characters including brix, acidity and fruit shape and colour were evaluated. General combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) were significant indicating the importance of both additive and dominance gene action. Out of the 36 Fi tomato genotypes; T068 was selected as the best hybrid for the tourist industry as it showed heterobeltiosis for yield (48%) and low acidity, while T025 was selected as the best hybrid for local consumption as it too showed heterobeltiosis for yield (76%) with high acidity. Both hybrids showed that yield potentials were much higher than the currently used varieties.